St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-04-24
er. in the figured velvet belt around her

''Why did you give your arm to Mari
etta?" she asked suddenly.
us she not your friendp" returned.
''She was my friend, but I hate her
now.''
The manner in which this was Kissed
from between her set teeth and the look
which accompanied her words left no doubt
as to the intensity of the feeling.
was embarrassed, fur did not compre-
bend yet the girls meaning.
II am truly sorry" said alphabetically,
''that l should have placed you in false
position. but there seemed to be nothing
should not have invited her to accom-
pany us.''
'Why did you call her pretty in my pres
ence? Why did you turn from ME to praise
her. and why did she dare to speak to
you?"
Surely" 1 began, ''you cannot blame
me-"
'Oh no; do not blame you.''
The old look came back, softer and
brighter than before. but it was but mo-
mentary transition. for the expression of
ineffable hatred returned as she cried with
fiendish vehemence, but hate her-I
hate her to DEATH"
Her hand nervously played about the Or
namental hilt of the dagger, but while the
action was afterwards forcibly recalled to
my memory in connection with that never
to-be-forgotten scene. it did not impress me
at the time.
'Oh. don't be foolish" 1 said, in con-
ciliatory tone. 81 don't know how she
may have offended you before, but you can
not blame her for the little episode OF
to-day. 1t was my fault, not hers"
But you did not like her so we'll as you
like me?"
Ali the rancor had left her naturally soft
voice, the primary expression again illu.
mined her countenance and there was some
thing plaintive in hec sweet smile as she
anXiously awaited my answer.
''Of course not" 1 replied, hoping to
complete her happiness.
She threw her arms about me and. laying
her head ON my shoulder, relieved her emo
ton in tears. was stroking her hair when
footstep at the door caused her to start.
The professor entered with bouquet COM
posed of common white and red roses and a
few tulips, in his hand.
THAT young girl, Marietta, who rode
over with me to-day. sent you these" he
said, arranging them in vase.
GuiSSeppina uttered a vndictve CRY and
flew from the room. Supper was brought
a moment later, and as I sat down to eat 1
felt inclined to laugh at the girls grievance.
l sat on the piazza of our inn, which
gloried in the title of Hotel della Lombar-
die, watching the magnifed golden sun de-
Scend behind the blue mountains on the
PiedmOntese border which formed the hor-
lion. The dazzling sheen cast by the gor-
geous disk on the Ticinio, which the glitter
rendered visible in the distance, seemed
borne along on the narrow stream until it
became lost in the shade of the luxuriant
foliage Oh either bank. The professor was
packing up, as, having rusticated long
enough, we Were to start for Pavia, the
city Of a hundred towers, in the morning.
l was notwithstanding of home, as my
eyes absorbed the beauty of the scene be-
fore me.
was startled by hearing my name pro-
nounced in an eager undertOne and looked
around. Before me stood Giuseppina, but
SO terribly changed as to be scarcely recog-
nlZable. Her hair was disheveled and fell
about her face; her features were pale and
distorted and bore an expression of mingled
pain and terror; her eyes were staring and
bloodshot aud her clothing disordered. She
dropped on her knees before me, and, seiz-
| ing my hand, covered it with kisses and
| tears.
''Oh, Signor,' she exclaimed, II am so
| glad to have found you. She will never
trouble MS again"
raised her tenderly up, believing that
the poor girls nerves had been overworked
and that she was the victim of hysteria.
Kindness, 1 thought. might relieve her
mental agony; SO gently brushed back her
clustering hair with my hand and imprinted
kiss on her forehead. She smiled family
| and the light returning to her countenance
was like that of the sun penetrating storm
cloud.
You are SO good, so very good to me-"
she murmured; you did not love her, but
| she will never trouble US again.
MY dear Giuseppina," said, gently.
speak Of? Whom do you say L never
loved?"
Marietta"
Why. my child" laughed, but willing
still to humor her, ''you know l have not
loved any one for month";
| She drew away from me with startled
cry. then threw herself back in my arms
and, looking up in my face with a bright
smile, said: but you love me now; and [
love you SO, and shall always love you, and
Marietta shall not come between us again."
Her words came like revelation. though
I did not comprehend their full purport.
"What nonsense is this?" cried. throw
! ing her roughly off me; you cannot think
that 1 love you because I spoke to you at
the fair aud tried to please you.'
She dropped on her knees and buried her
face in her hands.
''And [ hated her-hated her to death
for you.''
The words were uttered between bitter
sobs. The phrase which she now had used
several times in my hearing I thought to
be an idiomatic expression used to denote
intense hatred.
We'll, you see how foolish you have
been," l said Better 20 and become
friends again with Marietta"
Friends! How? She is dead!'
rushed to her side and caught her by
the arm.
"Deadw l cried, horror-stricken.. 'tDead,
and you killed her"
Yes, hated her to death for you, for
you; because l loved you and she came be-
tween u.s.
I could hear the buzz of many voices in
the street, as the villagers were excited
over something. The professor rushed
breathlessly on the piazza.
Marietta, the girl whom you brought
home from the fair last night, has been
murdered. A dagger was driven to her
heart"
A cry of horror escaped him as he pointed
towards the girl at my feet.
Look. look. at Giuseppinar'
Even as she spoke she fell heavily in a
faint. A fourth person had come on the
piazza and rushed to the side of Giuseppina
AS looked down was startled to see Ma
rietta kneeling over the PROSTATE form.
She was pale, and her face bore an express
sion OF suffering. The professor brought
some water, and in few minutes, through